With the rapidly increasing diversity of the US population, it is more important than ever that health education interventions be culturally competent and that practitioners be well-suited to work within minority populations. |
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A new Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) Minority Internship Program takes a different approach to training—an approach that simultaneously works with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), state and territorial health agencies, and local community-based health agencies to prepare future public health leaders. This program, conceived at the CDC, includes benefits that will extend throughout the entire public health community.
The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Challenge: A Diverse Public Health Workforce
The IOM’s 2003 Report, Who Will Keep the Public Healthy? Educating Public Health Professionals for the 21st Century, identified eight emerging content areas important to public health practice. While the IOM 2002 Report documented disparities in health care as among the nation’s most serious healthcare problems, the 2003 Report highlighted the need for a diverse public health workforce to address ethnic and racial health disparities.
To address the issues in the IOM reports, NCCDPHP’s Division of Adult and Community Health (DACH) began to work closely with partners to cultivate a competent public health workforce directly from MSIs. A focus group consisting of MSIs with health education and public health curriculums provided the blueprint for the implementation of the new Internship Program for Students of Minority Serving Institutions (IPSMSI). The development of the internship program is based on a moderate investment from CDC, with hopes of substantial long term dividends. DACH’s partners for this initiative include: the Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE); Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs); and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU).
In its inaugural year, the program received 18 applications and placed 15 students at seven placement sites. Since then, the program has increased in popularity and receives over 150 applications every term for 15 internship opportunities. |
Division of Reproductive Health
Ulrica M. Andujar, MPH.
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Ulrica M. Andujar, MPH, CHES, graduated from Florida International University (an HSI partner) and completed her internship placement with the Washington County Health Department WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) Program in Hagerstown, Maryland, where she served as a health educator focusing on breastfeeding promotion among WIC participants. Ulrica developed a two-day health education program for expectant WIC participants as part of a study titled, Increasing Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Among Expectant Mothers Utilizing WIC Services. She also developed a social marketing campaign, which included posters, table displays, and a presentation focusing on World Breastfeeding Week in August. In her current role, Ulrica is a contractor with SRA International, supporting Northrop Grumman Information Technology on the CDC Countermeasure & Response Administration (CRA) informatics program, serving as a business analyst. She credits this position with allowing her to leverage her public health experience and education within the field of health information technology. For Ulrica, participation in the CDC/DHPE internship provided her with the public health experience necessary to put her education into practice. She says, “The support of the program coordinator and director were invaluable. I enjoyed this experience immensely, and believe it is a program that succeeds at developing and nurturing the public health professionals of tomorrow.” |
